Food festivals in Upstate NY: Popular celebrations for 2017

New York has more than 35,000 farms on more than 7 million acres. That adds up to nearly 1.5 million head of cattle, 40,000 acres of apple trees, $25 million worth of maple syrup and 14 billion pounds of milk.

That all adds up to many, many reasons to party.

And Upstate New York communities celebrate food with festivals nearly all year long. Here's our growing list for 2017. Did we leave one off? Please let us know.

Feast on jambalaya, crawfish, beignets and other Louisiana fare, along with live music. The feast is hosted by Operation Northern Comfort, a group from CNY that helps communities recover from natural disasters.

The Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned competition draws competitors from across the country and is rates one of the top 10 BBQ fests by Delish.com. There's also a Freestyle Motocross stunt show, live music and lots of games, vendors and activities.

If you're looking for the ultimate barbecue experience, look no further than the "Best of the Fest" VIP ticket. This pass gives you unlimited ribs and other barbecue, beer and other beverages, as well as a private tent close to the main stage.

The Garlic Court, including the garlic king and queen, kick off the festival. There's garlic growing competitions, garlic braiding demonstrations and a full menu of garlicky foods. Just don't plan on kissing anyone afterwards.